MLAB 2360 Clinical I

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MLAB 2360 Clinical I

• Pillars of Professionalism

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Professional What Does it Mean?

• Exhibiting a courteous, conscientious and
  business-like manner in the workplace
• Courteous follow the golden rule
• Conscientious Be prepared, do quality work
• Business-like behave appropriately, present
  yourself well

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Why is Professional Behavior Important?

• Creates a sense of trust and safety among
  patients and co-workers
• Promotes confidence in the facility
• Creates an positive, uplifting and optimistic
  environment

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Whats in it for me?

• You will be treated with respect and courtesy
• You will be perceived as prepared, effective and
  worthy

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Professional behaviors

• Workers are considered professional when they do
  certain tasks and refrain from doing other tasks
• Time Place for Everything
• Personal calls, cell phones, making appointments
• Personal Use of Supplies Equipment
• Computers, copy machines, printers, etc.
• Discussing Personal Problems
• Discussing Medical Conditions
• Borrowing Lending Money
• Soliciting

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Professional Development

• Develop your person
• Join ASCLS and/ or ASCP
• Create a resume to track your accomplishments
• Attend continuing education seminars
• Participate in lab week

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Professional Development

• Serve the Community
• Be a lobbyist for licensure
• Recruit in the high schools
• Participate in health or wellness fairs
• Volunteer in community clinics
• Donate blood

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TACLS Your State Society

• Strength in numbers with licensure initiatives
  and other legislation (loan forgiveness,
  scholarships, etc.)
• Networking
• Continuing education Annual Meetings
• 2012 TACLS Annual Meeting in Austin at ACC and
  lt50 registration fee.
• 2012 ASCLS Convention in Houston in July
• Inspiration
• Discounts

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Pillars
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Pillars

• Integrity
• Accountability
• Responsibility
• If you make an error, own up to it
• Pre-analytical errors
• Follow through
• Initiative
• Ask for Help

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Pillars

• Punctuality
• Attendance
• Trust
• Operations depend on their workforce
• Dont take advantage of your co-workers

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Pillars

• Attention to Detail
• Strive for zero errors
• Be on alert for preanalytical, analytical and
  postanalytical phases of testing

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Pillars

• Customer Service
• Co-workers, patients, doctors and other facility
  employees are our customers
• Treat every customer as you would like to be
  treated

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Pillars

• Organizational Skills
• Learn how to prioritize
• Speed will come with experience
• Develop a routine and stick to it

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Pillars

• Communication
• Elements
• Verbal word choices, vocabulary
• Vocal volume pace, tone, emphasis, inflection
• Visual facial expression, body language/posture,
  appearance

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Communication

• Tips for Success
• Chose appropriate times
• Reduce/ Eliminate barriers
• Create a positive environment
• Use various delivery mediums
• Provide a precise message
  Sender
• Check for understanding
• Listen
• React with eye contact, nods
  Receiver
• Respond by acknowledging, ask questions

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Creating a Positive Environment

• Just because we have always done it this way
  does not mean a behavior is acceptable
• Creating a positive ripple
• You must be willing to identify and stop
  tolerating/ enabling what is not working. You
  should do the right thing even though it may be
  unpopular
• Use initiative to teach others to do the same

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How Can You Be a Positive Force in the Workplace?

• Observe yourself in action
• Stop being negative
• Learn to respect peoples humanity and their
  right to be by themselves
• Recognize negativity around you
• Speak up
• Make conversations constructive
• Offer praise

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Ethics
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Ethics

• How does one act ethically?
• How do I know if I am ethical?
• What should I do if I find practices in my lab
  are not passing the ethical test?

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Ethics

• What is ethics?
• According to the American College Dictionary,
  ethics means
• 1. The principles of morality, including both the
  science of the good and the nature of the right
• 2. The rules of conduct recognized in respect to
  a particular class of human actions, as in
  medical ethics
• 3. Moral principles, as of an individual
• 4. The science of the human character in its
  ideal state

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Ethics

• All of us have values even though we may not know
  it or admit it to ourselves.
• Sometimes our values dont make themselves
  apparent until we are confronted with a tough
  issue or decision.

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Ethical Violations

• Lying or Distorting facts
• Blaming others for ones mistakes
• Taking credit for others work
• HIPPA violation
• Abusing sick time
• Borrowing supplies

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• Most professions have established a Code of
  Conduct or a Code of Ethics for people in the
  field
• Example Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath,
  Nurses take the Florence Nightingale Oath
• The American Society for Clinical Laboratory
  Sciences has established a Code of Ethics for
  clinical laboratory professionals. It can be
  found at
• http//www.ascls.org/about/ethics.asp

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• The ASCLS Code of Ethics basically states that
  all laboratory professionals have
• I. Duty to the Patient
• II. Duty to Colleagues and the Profession
• III. Duty to Society

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• ASCLS Pledge to the ProfessionAs a clinical
  laboratory professional, I strive to
• Maintain and promote standards of excellence in
  performing and advancing the art and science of
  my profession
• Preserve the dignity and privacy of others
• Uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of
  our profession
• Seek to establish cooperative and respectful
  working relationships with other health
  professionals
• Contribute to the general well being of the
  community.
• I will actively demonstrate my commitment to
  these
• responsibilities throughout my professional life.

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• The ASCLS Code of Ethics and Pledge to the
  Profession can serve as a moral compass to
  guide clinical laboratory professionals in their
  jobs and even in their interactions with friends
  and family.
• Decision-making can be tough in any situation,
  but particularly tough when you are a recent
  graduate or when you are the only person working
  in the lab when a decision is needed.

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Value-Based Decision-Making Model

1. State the problem
2. Is it an ethical problem or a situation with an
   ethical component
3. Identify the ethical concerns (i.e. legality)
4. Identify who is affected
5. Collect additional information
6. Solid proof, document the facts
7. Identify resources available- who to contact
8. Look for alternative solutions- consider side
   effects
9. Decide how the solution should be implemented
10. Frame a choice from the possible alternative
    solutions and compare it with personal or
    professional values
11. List the short and long term consequences of the
    choice.

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• Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
  Model
• The Lead MLT is the only staff person left in the
  lab on a Saturday evening. Two technicians
  arrive for the midnight shift. One of the
  technicians seems to be under the influence of
  something her gait is unsteady and her speech is
  slurred.
• What would you do?

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• Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
  Model (contd)
• Using the Decision-Making Model outlined on
  previous slide , this is what the Lead MLT
  decided
• 1. The problem is that this midnight tech might
  be drunk or under the influence of some drug and
  her ability to function may be impaired.
• 2. The Lead MLT values excellent patient care and
  accurate laboratory testing. He also values
  maintaining a good working relationship with the
  midnight tech and her friendship. Too, he values
  his free time and a good nights sleep.

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• Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
  Model (contd)
• 3. The Lead MLT could
• A. Stay for a double shift, assigning the
  midnight MLT to harmless tasks
• B. He could warn the other midnight tech about
  this possibly impaired MLT, leave, and hope for
  the best
• C. He could call his supervisor for a decision
• D. He could ignore the situation and hope for the
  best

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• Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
  Model (contd)
• 4. This Lead MLT chose alternative D (ignored the
  situation and hoped for the best). He decided
  that his friendship with this person and
  maintaining a good working relationship with her,
  along with wanting his free time and a good
  nights sleep, was priority.

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• Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
  Model (contd)
• 5. Short-term consequences of his decision
  include
• A. The Lead MLT could go home and not work a
  double shift.
• B. His supervisor would not have to be disturbed.
• C. The impaired employee could work with no
  reprimands.
• 6. Long- term consequences are that laboratory
  errors could affect patient care.

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• Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
  Model (contd)
• Is this the decision you would have made? Maybe,
  maybe not. It is difficult to know until you are
  actually in that situation.